1
Tune your rates
Pick seconds-per-sub, bits, tips and members. Lower numbers keep the subathon manageable; bigger numbers make it grow fast.
Subathon Timer Calculator
Set your seconds-per-sub, bits and tip rates, and see exactly how long your subathon will run before you go live. Tweak the rules until the math works.
For Twitch, YouTube Live and Kick — free, instant, no signup. Includes a transparent-background overlay you can drop into OBS.
Time added per event
Simulated event volume
Total time added
1d 14:45:00
38.8 hours of stream
Final timer length
1d 16:45:00
40.8 hours total
Live preview ticker
1d 16:45:00
Counting down from final length
Subathon notes
- Add this timer to OBS as a Browser Source from a service like StreamElements, Streamlabs, Subathon Timer, or a custom WebSocket overlay.
Use This Timer as a Stream Overlay
Drop the URL below into OBS, Streamlabs or any encoder as a Browser Source. Transparent background, big numerals, customisable colours — counts down from your final timer length above.
Live preview
Background is transparent in OBS — the dark grey here is just the preview frame.
Style
In OBS: Add → Browser → paste this URL → set width 1920, height 1080. The countdown starts the moment the source loads, so add it just before you go live. For event-triggered subathons that update on each sub or tip, pair this URL with a webhook service like StreamElements or the Subathon Timer Bot.
How To Plan Your Subathon
2
Set a cap
Always set a maximum length. Without a cap a single big donor can lock you into days of streaming you didn't agree to.
3
Wire up the overlay
Add the timer to OBS as a Browser Source. Most subathon-timer services let you publish event hooks for each platform you stream to.
Popular Subathon Presets
| Preset | T1 sub | T2 sub | T3 sub | 100 bits | $1 tip | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative (24h target) | 60 | 180 | 600 | 30 | 30 | 48h |
| Standard (week-long) | 300 | 600 | 1500 | 60 | 60 | 168h |
| Ludwig 2021 style | 30 | 60 | 150 | 5 | 5 | 31 days |
| Aggressive (long sub) | 600 | 1200 | 3000 | 120 | 120 | 30 days |
| Charity (everything counts) | 180 | 360 | 900 | 60 | 120 | 72h |
All values approximate, drawn from public subathon rule announcements. Always set a cap — without one, big donors can extend a subathon indefinitely and force you off-stream.
Run Your Subathon Across Every Platform
A subathon needs every viewer it can get. StreamUps multistreams to Twitch, YouTube Live, Kick and more from a single encoder feed — and our chat overlay merges every comment from every platform into one feed you can read live without missing a sub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a subathon?
A subathon is a stream that runs as long as viewers keep contributing. Each sub, bit donation, tip, or YouTube membership extends a countdown timer by a set number of seconds. When the timer hits zero, the stream ends. Streamers use them to drive revenue, hit milestones, and create urgency around major moments.
How many seconds per sub should a subathon use?
There's no perfect number, but 60–300 seconds per Tier 1 sub is the most common range. Below 60 seconds a single sub barely moves the timer and the format loses its charge; above 300 seconds the timer can balloon out of control. Always pair this with a cap so donations don't lock you into days you didn't plan for.
Should a subathon have a time cap?
Yes, almost always. Without a cap, a single big donor can push the timer to weeks or months, which is dangerous for your sleep, health and stream stability. Standard caps are 24h, 48h, 168h (one week) or 30 days. Announce the cap in your subathon rules so viewers know contributions above the cap are voluntary support, not extra time.
How do I add this subathon timer to OBS?
Use the overlay configurator above to choose your starting time, colours and font, then copy the Browser Source URL into OBS as a Browser Source. The countdown starts the moment the source loads, so add it just before you go live. For event-triggered timers that update on each sub or tip, pair the URL with a webhook service like StreamElements, Streamlabs or Subathon Timer Bot.
Do gifted subs count for subathon time?
On Twitch, gifted subs count exactly the same as a normal sub of that tier — your timer should add Tier 1 / Tier 2 / Tier 3 seconds based on what was gifted. Some streamers cap gifted-sub time per minute to prevent a single big gifter from forcing the timer to its cap in one event.
What's the difference between a subathon and a sub-marathon?
They're often used interchangeably, but a subathon usually means "stream until the timer hits zero" while a sub-marathon means "stream a fixed long duration with sub goals" — like a 24-hour stream with hourly sub milestones. The math in this calculator works for both.